Child resistant easy opening end unit

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a child-resistant easy opening end unit of the type including an end panel having a line of weakness defining a tear panel at least partially removable from the end panel with a pull tab having a pair of legs and a web therebetween being joined to the tear panel through the web, means on opposite sides of the web aligned for abutment with the legs, and means in the form of a pair of weakening means formed in the web to effect the bending of the web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of the web and normal to the longitudinal axis thereof whereby a definite upward pull followed by a downward push must be first accomplished before further manipulation of the pull tab will bring the legs into contact with the abutment means for applying a rupturing force to the line of weakness thus subsequently permitting the at least partially removal of the tear panel.

United States Patent [1 1 Ostrem [451 July 15, 1975 CHILD RESISTANT EASY OPENING END UNIT [75] Inventor: Obert M. Ostrem, Westmont, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

22 Filed: June 14, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 479,414

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/273 [51] Int. Cl B65d 41/32 [58] Field of Search 220/269, 270, 271, 272, 220/273 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,643,832 2/1972 Khoury 220/273 3,795,34l 3/1974 Ostrem 220/269 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or FirmDiller, Brown, Ramik & Wight 5 7 ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a child-resistant easy opening end unit of the type including an end panel having a line of weakness defining a tear panel at least partially removable from the end panel with a pull tab having a pair of legs and a web therebetween being joined to the tear panel through the web, means on opposite sides of the web aligned for abutment with the legs, and means in the form of a pair of weakening means formed in the web to etffect the bending of the web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of the web and normal to the longitudinal axis thereof whereby a definite upward pull followed by a downward push must be first accomplished before further manipulation of the pull tab will bring the legs into contact with the abutment means for applying a rupturing force to the line of weakness thus subsequently permitting the at least partially removal of the tear panel.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CHILD RESISTANT EASYOPENING END UNIT a pull tab generally of the type disclosed in the following corresponding'patents: 4

To Nick S. Khoury, Pat. No 3,437,229 issued Apr. 8, 1969, entitled Soft Lift Tab and Des. No. 206,412 in the name of Warren J. Hayford issued Dec. 6, 1966 and entitled Pull Tab For A Tear Strip Opener. In both these patents the pull tabs include a pair of legs with a web therebetween which is joined to a .tear panel defined by a score line. As the pull tab is lifted the legs bear against an end panel ofthe end unit thereby applying a rupturing force to a starting end of thescore line resulting in the rupture thereof and the eventual total or partial removal of the tear panel.

With easy opening units of the type just defined a child could find it readily easy to rupture the line of weakness because all that is required to do so is a simple obvious pulling action of the pull tab relative to the end panel. Needless to say it is undesirable for uninitiated children to readily open such end units as they might become injured by the raw edge of the residual of the score line remaining surrounding the opening in the end panel and that surrounding the tear panel.

In keeping with the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an easy opening end unit generally of the type disclosed in the latter mentioned patents but improved by'providing the end panel at opposite sides of the web with abutment means and means of the web for effecting the bending thereof along two transverse bend lines whereby in order to rupture the score line the tab must be first pulled in one direction, pushed in another direction, and finally pushed such that the legs encounter the abutment means to effect rupture of the line of weakness and due to such intricate bending the end unit is relatively resistant to opening thereof by a child but is readily opened by adults with or without the provision of instructions which may, for example, be embossed or printed upon the end panel.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, thenature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended 'claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

INTI-IE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a novel child-resistant easy opening end unit'constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates an end panel having a tear panel defined by a line of weakness to which is attached the web of a pull tab disposed between a pair of legs in to FIG. 3, and illustrates the manner in which the pull tab is first pulled in a first direction toward the tear panel bending the web along the first fold line.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, and in solid outline illustrates the manner in which the pull tab is pushed downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 4 along a second fold line prior to being again pushed in a direction toward the tear panel, as shown in phantom outline, such that the legs move toward the recesses.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view after the complete bending of the web with the legs being shown received in the recesses.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, and illustrates the motion lastly imparted to the pull tab whereupon the legsacting as fulcrums impart a rupturing force ,to a starting end of the score line and the eventual removal of the tear panel from the end panel.

A novel child-resistant easy opening end unit constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The end unit 10 includes in a conventional peripheral curl 1,1 which is double seamed in the usual manner to a container body. The curl 11 is inwardly bound by a chuck wall 12 surrounding an end panel 13 which includes a full opening tear panel 14 defined by a score line or similar line of weakness 15. At a starting end (unnumbered) of the tear panel 14 is formed a rivet 16 (FIG. 4) having a neck 17 received in an opening 18 formed in a web 20 of a pull tab 21. The web 20 is united to the tear panel 14 by a overfolded portion or head 22 of the rivet 16, in the manner best illustrated inFIG. 4.

Identical means generally designated by the reference numerals 2 3 and 24 are located in the end panel 13 on opposite sides of the starting end (unnumbered) of the tear panel 14 and the rivet 16. Each of the abutment means 23, 24 is in the formof a recess formed in the material of the end panel 13 and includes a pair of shoulders or abutment surfaces 25, 26,(FIG. 3). The abutment surface 25 is inclined to the plane .of the end panel and faces upwardly and to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3. The abutment surface 26 is generally in a plane parallel to the axis of the rivet 16. Each abutment surface 26 terminates at a roundedsurface ornose 27.

The web 20 which is disposed between a pair of legs 30,31 (FIG. 2) aligned with the respective abutment meansor recesses 23, 24 includes means for effecting the bending of the web 20 upon the application of force to the pull tab 21 such that the legs 30, 31 will engage the respective abutment means 23, 24 for applying a rupturing force to the score line 15 and thus the subsequent removal thereof from the end panel 13 in amanner to be described more fully, hereinafter. The web bending effecting means is generally designated by the reference numeral 35 and includes a pair of bend effecting means 36, 37 in the form of a pair of oppositely opening notches in space relationship to each other lengthwise" of the web. The pair of notches of the bend effecting means are lined to define a line of bend 38 therebetween upon the upward pulling of the pull tab 21 whereas a like line of bend 39 is defined by the aligned notches of the bend effecting means 37.

In operation a person places his finger within an opening 40 of a ring 41 of the pull tab 21 and imparts thereto a lifting force in the direction of an arrow a in FIG. 4 resulting in the bending; of the web 20 along the bend line 38. Thereafter a pushing force is imparted to the pull tab 21 in the general direction of an arrow b (FIG. 4) resulting in a bending of the web 20 along the bend line 39, generally in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Next the tab 21 is pushed in the di rection of the arrows c in FIG. 5 once again resulting in a bending of the web 20 along the bend line 38 resulting in the movement of the tab 21 to the phantom outline position shown in FIG. 5 and the eventual receipt of the legs 30, 31 into the respective recesses 23, 24. After the latter occurs with the ends (unnumbered) of the legs 30, 31 in contact with the abutment surfaces 25 of the recesses 23, 24, the pull tab 21 is again pulled in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 7 whereby an opening force is imparted through the completely bent web 20, as shown in FIG. 7, to the starting end of the score line 15 resulting in the rupture thereof, again as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter the pull tab is pulled upwardly away from the end unit in the direction of the headed arrow 2 of FIG. 7 to totally remove the tear panel 14 from the end panel 13 to gain access to contents within a container body (not shown) with which the end unit is associated. It is to be noted that the nose 27 acts as a pivot or fulcrum point during the pull ing of the tab 21 in the direction of the arrow d (FIG. 7) and during the same motion the legs will slide down the incline surfaces 25 of the recesses 23, 24. The recesses and particularly the angularity of the abutment surfaces 25 thereof prevent the legs 30, 31 from being inadvertently removed from the recesses 23, 24 during the opening or force applying application as shown in FIG. 7.

Though the bend effecting means formed by the pair of weakening means 36, 37 is defined by the two pair of oppositely opening slots in the web 20, the latter may be omitted and in lieu thereof score lines or lines of weakness may be formed along the lines of bend 38, 39. Such score lines would reduce the thickness of the web 20 in much the same manner as the score line reduces the thickness of material to form the thinner residual between the end panel 13 and the tear panel 14. In such case though the notches formed in the web may be eliminated they may, of course, also be retained.

Since the tab 21 must be manipulated in the particular sequence indicated by the arrows a-e a child in attempting to open the end unit 10 would find it difficult if not impossible to accomplish his or her desired end. In this manner any accidents which would might otherwise occur such as cut fingers or the like in the case of conventional end units of the type herefore referred to in the patents mentioned is totally avoided by the present invention.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in detail and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. An easy opening end unit of the type including an end panel having a line of weakness defining a tear panel at least partially removable from said end panel, a pull tab including a pair of legs and a web therebetween, means joining said web to said tear panel, means on opposite sides of said web aligned for abutment with said legs, and means of said web for effecting the bending thereof upon the application of force to said pull tab such that said legs engage said abutment means for applying a rupturing force to said line of weakness and thus the subsequent at least partial removal of said tear panel from said end panel.

2. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include weakening means formed in said web.

3. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web.

4. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein bending effecting means are in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web.

5. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means are a pair of recesses formed in said end panel.

6. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means are a pair of upstanding shoulders formed in said end panel each having an abutment surface facing in a direction-away from said legs.

7. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, and said pairs of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being nortrial to the web longitudinal axis.

8. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, said pair of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being normal to the web longitudinal axis, and said pair of weakening means are each defined by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.

9. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, said pair of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being normal to the web longitudinal axis, and said pair of weakening means are each defined by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and normal to the web longitudinal axis.

10. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said abutment means are a pair of recesses formed in said end panel.

11. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said abutment means are a pair of upstanding shoulders formed in said end panel each having an abutment surface facing in a direction away from said legs.

12. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.

13. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and normal to the web longitudinal axis.

14. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 11 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined said pair 9 weakening means F each define d by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.

15. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 11 5 normal to the web longitudinal axis. 

1. An easy opening end unit of the type including an end panel having a line of weakness defining a tear panel at least partially removable from said end panel, a pull tab including a pair of legs and a web therebetween, means joining said web to said tear panel, means on opposite sides of said web aligned for abutment with said legs, and means of said web for effecting the bending thereof upon the application of force to said pull tab such that said legs engage said abutment means for applying a rupturing force to said line of weakness and thus the subsequent at least partial removal of said tear panel from said end panel.
 2. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting mEans include weakening means formed in said web.
 3. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web.
 4. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein bending effecting means are in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web.
 5. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means are a pair of recesses formed in said end panel.
 6. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means are a pair of upstanding shoulders formed in said end panel each having an abutment surface facing in a direction away from said legs.
 7. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, and said pairs of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being normal to the web longitudinal axis.
 8. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, said pair of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being normal to the web longitudinal axis, and said pair of weakening means are each defined by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.
 9. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said bending effecting means include a pair of weakening means formed in said web in spaced relationship to each other lengthwise of said web, said pair of weakening means being constructed and arranged to effect the bending of said web along parallel fold lines spaced lengthwise of said web and being normal to the web longitudinal axis, and said pair of weakening means are each defined by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and normal to the web longitudinal axis.
 10. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said abutment means are a pair of recesses formed in said end panel.
 11. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said abutment means are a pair of upstanding shoulders formed in said end panel each having an abutment surface facing in a direction away from said legs.
 12. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.
 13. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and normal to the web longitudinal axis.
 14. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 11 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a pair of oppositely opening notches in edges of said web.
 15. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 11 wherein said pair of weakening means are each defined by a score line in parallel relationship to each other and normal to the web longitudinal axis. 